From Policy to Plate: The Impact of Livestock and Poultry Regulation on Meat Consumption in Rural China

Given the negative externalities generated by pollution from livestock and poultry production, governments have implemented environmental regulations targeting the agricultural sector. This study uses China's livestock and poultry regulation (LPR) as a quasiexperiment and evaluates its impacts on rural residents’ meat consumption. Utilizing the data from China Health and Nutrition Surveys, our findings reveal an average reduction of 15.1 g in daily meat consumption per rural resident, primarily attributed to meat price increases. However, nonfarm employment would alleviate the negative impact of LPR on meat consumption. Residents with higher income, engaging in nonfarm jobs, and higher dietary knowledge exhibit lower mean intake reduction. Furthermore, for individuals with excessive meat intake, the regulation reduces their meat consumption, while exerting little effects on those with inadequate or moderate meat consumption. Our findings have important policy implications regarding the trade-offs between food security and nutrition and environmental protection, in particular in rural areas.